Hard-hitting Royals pursue sweep of Astros

The Kansas City Royals hope to keep their bats hot as they shoot for a three-game series sweep against the visiting Houston Astros on Thursday afternoon.

The Royals' seven-run outburst on Wednesday evening, coupled with an eight-run inning against the Chicago White Sox on April 4, gives Kansas City multiple seven-plus-run frames in April for the first time since 2000.

Vinnie Pasquantino led the charge on Wednesday, delivering a career-best five RBIs on three hits as Kansas City beat Houston 11-2 for its sixth consecutive victory.

Pasquantino doubled and hit his first home run in the contest after starting the year batting .108 with no-extra base hits or RBIs through his first 10 games.

"I try not to consider slumps, or highs and lows," Pasquantino said. "I try to consider you're riding this roller coaster and trying to keep it as much of a kiddie ride as you can so it's just flat. Obviously the first week and a half wasn't what I wanted, statistically, but tonight felt good."

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said, "Nice relief for him. It's so early in the year and so few plate appearances that that'll move the needle for him, numbers-wise, and it'll feel better. Above and beyond, he used the whole field. He got a hit off a lefty, took a walk, showed some power, and five RBIs."

Kansas City bats have been lively early in games, outscoring opponents 28-6 over the first three innings of games. Overall, the Royals have outscored opponents 35-10 during their six-game surge, the longest active winning streak in the majors.

Royals right-hander Brady Singer (1-0, 0.68 ERA) is set to oppose Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (0-1, 6.43) in the series finale on Thursday.

Singer has allowed just five hits and two walks while striking out 14 over 13 1/3 innings to start the season. He beat the Minnesota Twins with seven scoreless innings on March 31, then got a no-decision in Kansas City's 2-1 win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday.

In three career starts against the Astros, Singer is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA.

Yordan Alvarez has a home run among two hits in nine at-bats against Singer, and he has hit safely in 16 straight games against the Royals.

Brown failed to get past the fourth inning in each of his first two starts this year, allowing five runs on eight hits and four walks in three innings to take a loss against the Texas Rangers on Friday in his latest outing.

In his lone previous appearance against Kansas City, Brown surrendered four home runs — including two by Nelson Velazquez — and six runs in three innings during a 6-5 loss last Sept. 24.

Brown was originally scheduled to start on Wednesday, but his turn was pushed back as Spencer Arrighetti made his major league debut.

Arrighetti, a 24-year-old right-hander, fanned the first two batters he faced.

"It made the game feel like the game I've always played," he said. "I always tell myself if I throw strike one, it's going to be just fine."

The second time through the order, the Royals batted around, scoring seven to knock Arrighetti out after three innings.

"I've definitely had better days," Arrighetti said of his pitch execution. "I made some mistakes with four-seamers. I made some mistakes with spin that I normally wouldn't. These guys are really, really good hitters. Even if I miss by a little bit, it gets put in play and finds holes."

—Field Level Media